Football
Football

Arsenal eye Aubameyang, Mane alerts United

LONDON, January 3 – Arsenal will make a mammoth bid for Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, Manchester United will rekindle their interest in Saido Mane and Isco could be on his way to Manchester City, according to today’s papers.

WENGER TO LAUNCH HUGE BID FOR AUBAMEYANG

Arsenal may be leading the Premier League, but their need for reinforcements in January is evident – with the likes of Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere, Francis Coquelin and Danny Welbeck all currently sidelined.

Midfield appears the most obvious area in need of strengthening, although up front Arsene Wenger only has Theo Walcott or Olivier Giroud to lead the line – both of whom have had their fair share of detractors.

And according to the Sun on Sunday, Wenger is finally ready to splash the cash on a prolific striker, and will make a £42million bid for Borussia Dortmund star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has scored 24 goals in 23 appearances this season.

A source is quoted in the paper as saying: “An intermediary has made contact with Dortmund about Pierre-Emerick making a move to Arsenal”

“Wenger knows the fee is very high – yet this is a striker who can make a massive difference for him and help win the title for the first time in 12 years. But there is a lot of interest in him.”

The Gabon international, 26, was linked with a host of Premier League clubs over the summer, and the report suggests Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea are also interested.

MANCHESTER UNITED ON RED ALERT FOR MANE

Under Ed Woodward, Manchester United have rarely gone about their transfer business quietly, and their late bid for Saido Mane in the summer transfer window didn’t take long to become common knowledge.

With Mane dropped from Southampton’s starting XI for the defeat at Norwich City on Saturday – and subsequently criticised by Ronald Koeman – the Red Devils are widely tipped to revive their interest in the forward.

Both the Mail on Sunday and Sun on Sunday report that United boss Louis van Gaal has been alerted by Mane’s fall out with the club, with the Dutchman wanting to inject some pacy and trickery into his team.

According to the Mail, the whole package to sign the Senegalese international would cost United a whopping £62million, due to the 23-year-old’s £125,000-a-week wage demands adding to a £30million transfer fee.

PELLEGRINI WANTS TO BE REUNITED WITH ISCO

One transfer line doing the rounds this morning regards the future of Real Madrid attacking midfielder Isco, who is struggling to force his way into Rafa Benitez’s starting XI at the Bernebeu.

The Spaniard has started only nine matches in La Liga this term, and according to the Mail on Sunday, Sunday Mirror and Sunday People could be on his way to Manchester City.

Isco came to prominence under current City boss Manuel Pellegrini at Malaga, where his performances eventually led to a £21million move to Madrid.

Pellegrini remains a huge admirer of the 23-year-old and tried to sign the playmaker when the Chilean took over at City two years ago.

City’s sporting director Txiki Begiristain is also understood to be a huge fan of the Spain international.

With Real Madrid possessing a host of attacking talent, they would be willing to sell but only for £30million, a fee which they should easily be able to afford given their riches.